To Love a Shadow To Be the Sun novel Chapter 328

“You’ve only just arrived and you’re already kicking me out?”

“You’re not skipping classes, are you?”

Pearl pouted. “Academic conference. I’ll be here for a few days.”

Zane ignored her. “Go get some sleep. If I come back late, don’t wait up.”

With that, he disappeared into his room.

As soon as the door closed, he fished out his phone and dialed Elara’s number.

Only to discover—she’d blocked him.

At five in the morning, the sky was still pitch black, but the lights at Vincent Manor suddenly snapped on.

Dowager Felice Vincent was dragged from her bed into the sitting room.

She looked up to see her devoted butler, John Prescott, kneeling on the rug, his right sleeve soaked in blood, one hand severed. The old woman pressed her rosary beads between her fingers, steadying herself as she stared at the two men lounging on the sofa.

“So, you two planning to improve the energy flow of Vincent Manor?” she asked coolly.

Gareth shifted uncomfortably, but Ellis just grinned. “You always saw through me, Grandmother. I won’t deny it—yes, that’s exactly what I have in mind.”

Felice’s silver hair was disheveled, but her eyes were icy and clear. “Kill me if you want, but you’ll never get what you’re after.”

Ellis barely looked fazed. “You made sure of that, didn’t you? Handed everything over to Brian. Don’t worry—he’ll be here soon.”

Felice’s face darkened. “The worst mistake your grandfather ever made was keeping you around. He should never have made Brian swear, on his deathbed, not to harm you. You, alive, are nothing but—”

“Mother,” Gareth interrupted, unable to listen any longer. “Ellis is your grandson, too! If you and Father had treated us all equally, would he have turned out like this? I’m not like the rest of you—”

“You certainly aren’t,” Felice cut him off sharply. “You didn’t inherit a shred of the Vincent intelligence. Instead, you went and taught yourself arrogance and incompetence. Eyesight so poor you can’t see a thing—married a call girl, spoiled your son rotten. If it weren’t for Brian, I’d regret ever having you.”

Gareth was left speechless, stung by her words.

Ellis’s patience wore thin; he motioned for his men to tie Felice up.

But Felice lunged straight for the coffee table.

But Brian’s calm never wavered. “Are you sure you want to waste your time on me?”

Ellis hesitated, then waved his men back, scowling.

He tossed a will across the table. “Sign it, and I’ll break your arms and legs but keep you alive till you’re thirty-five. And now you’ll call your wife. Her life for Grandmother’s.”

The reason for keeping Brian alive until thirty-five was simple: Hackett’s will stated that if Brian died before reaching thirty-five, the entire estate would go to charity.

And if Elara was out of the picture, Brian would have no direct heirs. Everything would fall neatly into Ellis’s hands.

But Brian only smiled. “Little brother, you’re a step behind. Elara and I finalized our divorce. She’s not a Vincent anymore. No need to drag her into this.”

Ellis and Gareth both stared, caught off guard.

The plan was falling apart. Ellis’s face twisted with rage.

“You think cutting ties will keep her safe? Brian, you’re nothing but a coward—weak on the outside, empty inside! You can’t protect anyone!”